Summary

• Vanessa Lachey's departure from Hawai'i seals NCIS: Hawai'i's fate, ending any possibility of a season 4 revival.
• CBS stands firm on the cancelation decision, despite past reversals with other shows like Shemar Moore's S.W.A.T.
• Lachey's history in the NCIS franchise hints at a potential return, possibly making an appearance in the flagship series.

There's no turning back from the cancelation of cancelation of NCIS: Hawai'i season 4 despite continued protests from fans about the series ending. CBS canceled the third spinoff from the NCIS series in 2024, devastating its fanbase and shocking its cast . The NCIS: Origins prequel will take over the Aloha state's Monday night timeslot following NCIS. Still, there was a period when reversing the cancelation of NCIS: Hawai'i seemed logistically possible.

CBS deciding to hear fans out and renew the series for season 4 wasn't out of the question, considering the network decided to reverse the cancelation S.W.A.T. series ahead of season 8. Moreover, CBS walked back on Shemar Moore's show on two separate occasions. When it came to reversing the cancelation of NCIS: Hawai'i, however, network executives stood firm in their decision, with little to say that it could satisfy its frustrated audience. Now, an update from the Jane Tennant actor signifies the final nail in sealing NCIS: Hawai'i's coffin.

Vanessa Lachey Officially Leaves Hawai'i After NCIS Spinoff's Cancelation

The Jane Tennant Actor Leaving Hawai'i Means There's No Chance Of The Spinoff Coming Back

In August 2024, Lachey shared an Instagram post to announce that she was bidding the Aloha state farewell. The update means that CBS is unlikely to reverse the decision to end the series now, with its leading actor leaving the show's filming location. The post featured three photos: a portrait of Lachey looking out at the scenery bedecked in Hawaiian leis, a photo of Lachey and husband Nick Lachey with their three children, and a photo of Vanessa and husband walking off into the Hawaiian sunset alongside a gleaming shoreline. Check out her post below:

The intimate Instagram update demonstrates the permanence of NCIS: Hawai'i's end, at least for now. While Lachey's message radiated gratitude and a sense of resolution, the island-based series' cancelation has been an understandably rocky road for her. The NCIS: Hawai'i star responded to season 4's cancelation in an April 2024 Instagram post, describing her state of mind as "gutted, confused, [and] blindsided." That said, this doesn't have to be Lachey's NCIS farewell.

Can Lachey's Jane Tennant Still Return To NCIS After Hawai'i's End?

Vanessa Lachey Featured In NCIS And NCIS: Los Angeles

While it may not be possible to return the actor to her home NCIS: Hawai'i cast, there are many pathways for Vanessa Lachey to return as Jane Tennant. The actor has already featured in four episodes of the flagship NCIS series and one episode of NCIS: Los Angeles. As such, the Special Agent in Charge of the NCIS Hawai'i Field Office has established a robust presence in the NCIS franchise. Jane's connections in different NCIS series make her return to another installment all the more possible. Her most likely path to return is on the flagship, however.

On the flagship, there's a way for Jane Tennant to return as the perfect Jessica Knight replacement. The series teased that Katrina Law would depart after accepting a promotion to Chief REACT Training Officer, leaving an open role on the MCRT. Jane could even fill in for Gary Cole's Alden Parker as he recovers from the leg injury he suffered in the NCIS season 21 finale, and she could bring Sam Hanna as a temporary replacement for Knight. As such, the characters could at least get some resolution to the frustrating NCIS: Hawai'i season 3 finale.

The current era of NCIS: Hawai'i has come to a bitter but hopeful end.

Whether NCIS: Hawai'i eventually gets a revival or Jane appears alongside the NCIS, the NCIS franchise needs Jane Tennant. A revival of her character could finally answer why Maggie Shaw appeared in the series ending as well. What's certain is that the current era of NCIS: Hawai'i has come to a bitter but hopeful end.

Source: Vanessa Lachey/Instagram